Published at 28th of March 2026 7:57 am

Chapter 345: Crucial Mistake

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Scale Vipers, came Serrins murmured ripples. Dangerous foes, nightmarish fast and strong. Even Hornets avoid them. But they often guard treasures. He looked over, mandibles twisted in a way Nicolai now easily recognised as a smile, an excited one.

It was a new day and Serrin seemed to have put the sparring and the Dark Spirit out of mind, at least for now. Earlier, before theyd left, the Hornet had been sitting around for some time, deep in thought. Whatever hed decided, Nicolai didnt know. But either way, the faint tension between them had dissipated.

The pair of them were outside the Scale Viper cave. They stood by the gnarled trunk of the very same tree Nicolai had taken as a shooting position the last time hed been here.

These particular ones are guarding the Shardache we need, he replied.

Serrins Soul flickered with surprise. If theyre nesting around something that valuable how many are there?

Nicolai recalled his glimpse of the caves dim and muggy interior. Perhaps three hundred. Mostly Tier 1s but a good number of Tier 2s, and some Tier 3s.

You want to try and steal from them? We cant handle that!

Nicolai smiled. You said it. Stealing. We dont have to fight them. Well have a look first, see if anythings changed down there.

He took Serrin to the same place hed used before, the ground above the largest chamber in the cave. Using the Burrow Symbiote, he and Serrin sank into the ground. He was able to find the same path of earth through the stone, and soon enough they were nestled in the roof of the cave.

Useful Symbiote, whispered Serrin appreciatively. Nicolai was already looking out, gazing on the many, many Scale Vipers down below. It reminded him of crocodiles in the dry season, all packed into one tiny space of water, lying on top of one another. He felt Serrins Soul Sense join him.

Look at them all, came Serrins uneasy ripples. I hope youve a good plan. Ive seen what those things can do. I was with a raiding party that hunted a much smaller grouping of them. The leaders had it all worked out, but when they swarmed all that fell apart. We lost half the Hornets. Theres no way I could get in there via the Spiritual Realm. Id be afraid of even poking my head into it, in this cave. All those vicious Souls in one place will generate something equally vicious on the other side.

Nicolai flicked a glance at him. I thought you refused to kill on behalf of them.

I was younger, then. Often we went on hunting trips, clearing Spirit Beasts and rogue bugs from around the Hive. I was told they were monsters, a threat to our people. And from what I saw that seems to be true, many times we were attacked by Toothbearers or worse, and I see nothing wrong with fighting them. I had always suspected for other reasons, but only in the last months, when we began capturing humans who were no threat to us did the evil nature of my kind become so clear.

Based on what you know of Scale Vipers, how do you think we might steal from them? Nicolai had a plan of his own, but he was interested in hearing what Serrin had to say.

Im guessing we can go around and get underneath them, then steal the Shardache from below?

This Symbiote doesnt go through rock, and its all rock down there.

Yes but you have devices, tools. Couldnt one of your Soulless robots dig through?

He nodded. They could.

What about noise? Those things will start and swarm at the slightest disturbance.

Itll be slow, but there are ways to tunnel quietly. The real problem is that theyll notice when we cut a hole and pull one of those crystals into our tunnel I need to see if theres a way I can make them sleep deeper, as deeply as possible. If we can do that, thisll be manageable.

Poisoned food?

I was thinking gas.

Ahh. Serrin nodded. You have some kind of special gas machine!

No, but we can make one. But first we need to understand these creatures better. We need a test subject. He pondered. I could probably create a few tranquillising venoms, see about darting one no, the scales are too strong. Wed have to lure one out then jump on it, stab with envenomed blades.

Why dont I just sting one?

That works.

###

Luring a Scale Viper wasnt difficult. The problem was luring just one Scale Viper. The ones lurking in the early section of the cave were eager to rush out in a vicious mob. After their first unsuccessful attempt, where Nicolai had left a deer corpse just outside in hopes of luring one, but instead lured a dozen, the next went even worse. The Scale Vipers were riled by that point and came in a veritable flood, seeming to sense something was off. Even a few Tier 2s emerged, and their Soul Senses spread out in search.

Nicolai and Serrin ended up hunkered in a tree, Cloaked, Souls tightly Shelled, barely even breathing as they watched the Vipers prowl around the jungle below. They were beginning to turn back.

That was when the purple-glow figure of Serrin tensed. Do you feel that? he ripple-whispered where his Soul Sense touched on Nicolai. Its just like that other time. The Scoundrels are making another try on you. Theyre forming over there, added Serrin, pointing. The pair of them exchanged glances.

Nicolai had come up with a plan for this exact moment. Hed been hoping the Scoundrels would make a try for him. They needed to get them out of the way before they attempted the heist. A bunch of Blood Hunters showing up while they were attempting to cut out Shardache, surrounded by sleeping Scale Vipers, would be a serious problem. Hed worried they might even have given up. The fact theyd stuck around to try again was very, very good.

It was the crucial mistake which would see them dead.

###

Serrin, invisible, passed the Blood Hunters by. A cluster of four figures, formed from red energy. They were pressing through the jungle, toward where hed left Nicolai. The man said he could hold their attention, and Serrin believed him.

With an effort of will he shifted his view toward the Spiritual, and the spirit wire connecting to the Blood Hunters became visible. These wires dug into their backs then stretched off through the jungle back the way theyd come from them. Serrins wings blurred as he sped onwards, following the wire, knowing it would lead him to the Scoundrels who created these things.

Already he could hear gunshots from behind, feel the ripples of Symbiotes. Nicolai had said he would make little effort to kill them, just run around and using the odd ineffective attack, encouraging the Scoundrels to keep on fighting him via their Blood Hunters. He said that so long as they were controlling those things, they wouldnt be able to move their physical forms.

Soon the sound of fighting faded, and Serrin flew on through the quiet jungle. This wasnt an active area and wrapped by his Cloaking nothing would spot him anyway, he only had to dodge the occasional giant spiderweb.

An hour later, hed found them. Four humans sat cross-legged in a clearing. There was some kind of ritual protection around them, which dimmed their forms and made them slip from his eyes. If it werent for the spirit wire leading right here, he mightve overlooked them. He recognised this as a method of avoiding attention from the beasts of the jungle.

Over his armour he was wearing what Nicolai called a tactical harness. It was simple but quite useful, basically a vest with a bunch of pockets and pouches. From one of those pouches he pulled a device. Nicolai called it a radio transmitter. It was very simply made, almost suspiciously so. Effectively just a box with a lid. When he lifted the lid a large red button was revealed.

He pressed the button and gazed at it expectantly, but there was no sign of the adio waves Nicolai said it would create. He thumbed it once again, but still nothing. Shrugging, he decided they must be invisible.

He looked to the Scoundrels, wary. Nicolai had said they might be able to detect the radio waves. But so far, none of them had reacted.

However, soon they showed reactions of a different kind. The Scoundrels, whod been sitting meditatively, began to start and straighten, waking as though from a daze.

###

What the hell were you doing? Max snarled at Wu. We almost had him, then you went and got caught out!

You were meant to be keeping him pinned him, the man growled back. How did he get out from that tree, that is what I want to know!

Boys, boys, said Dakota. Settle down. We messed up, but overall She gave him a pointed look.

He nodded, calming. Yeah. We got a shot at this. This guys not so tough as we worried, and hes lost his friend.

But where to? asked Lin, frowning. Shed been the most worried about the idea of Hornets.

Max shrugged. Who knows. Who cares. Point is, theyre not together, and now weve had a chance to send the Blood Hunters at him properly, our boys not so tough after all. He smiled at the memory, the figure running and hiding. We almost got him a few times there, eh?

The others nodded, exchanging their own smiles. Theyd managed to break the targets shields a few times. Each time, the guy had somehow managed to slip away and regenerate them, showcasing some ridiculous luck that saw him avoid death by inches time and time again. But that didnt matter. Hed got lucky this time, but he wouldnt again. They could all feel it, tantalisingly close. The certainty that if they kept this up, eventually theyd get him.

Still, lets not get sloppy. Well relocate, just in case.

The Scoundrels packed up and got moving. They moved with far less hurry and were in a far better mood than the last time. They were entirely unaware of the Cloaked Hornet drifting along in their wake, curious eyes fastened on their backs.

###

Serrin had gradually come closer and closer, and was now able to hear their voices. He knew a little of the human language. One of them, at least, Shenran. With that he was able to comprehend one half of the conversation.

The humans seemed in good spirits. The more he watched them, the more they reminded him of the ones hed briefly befriended. The dark haired woman looked so similar to Jing. The gruff way the leader-type talked reminded him of Poyang, whod always been telling the others to stay strong, that theyd get through it that Serrin would get them free.

Uncertainty slowed his wingbeats. He knew what Nicolai would do when he arrived. Was that wrong? These were enemies, assassins who were here with the sole purpose of killing his friend.

But even so, might there be another way? Could they be reasoned with?

With these thoughts swirling through his mind, he barely noticed the passing of time and was taken entirely by surprise when a voice spoke in ripples.

Good job.

He looked back and saw a figure drifting toward him. When two individuals used the Hornet Cloaking Symbiote set and keyed their Symbiotes to each other, they would see one another as glowing purple figures. And so Nicolai appeared; a shape of purple light, the edges faintly blurred and softened.

But the softening of his form was only skin deep. Ill move on them. You go above, and be ready to chase. When some die, others will run. Chase them and finish them off. Just like that, in a tone that betrayed only faint satisfaction, four humans were slated for execution. The wraith of purple light drifted past him, already moving to put the words into action.

Serrin had been trying to think of some argument but so far nothing had come to mind. He spoke up regardless. Wait! he hissed.

The purple figure looked back. Yes?

Cant we talk to them? Maybe maybe something can be worked out?

Nicolai was silent for a time. He floated closer, reached out. A hand landed on Serrins shoulder. Your kindness is laudable, but as I told you, humans are a varied bunch. These ones are not your friends, least of all mine. They are assassins who have bought the right to hunt mean investment they hunger to recoup. Just as bad, they have seen my base and the machines within it. They will be eager to take them, or to sell on the information.

So its all about money?

Yes.

This was clearly intended to strike the conversation dead, but Serrin wouldnt be dissuaded so easily. But in that case, you can just buy them off! He declared. If they wont give up because they spent money to hunt you you can just pay them that money!

The helmeted head tilted in a way that conveyed vast disappointment, that suggested he was the most naive of fools.

If one of your brothers wanted to steal from you, and came after you for what you had and you, wanting to avoid harming him, simply gave him what he wanted. what would happen the next time you had something he wanted?

Serrin knew the answer. In his days as a stinglessbefore the Queen had taken interest in himhed been targeted many times. He would keep coming after me until I defeated him. For a moment he was silent, but thinking on that further he rallied. But once I proved I could defeat him, he would give up, and even seek to befriend me!

An honest friendship? I doubt it. But thats another matter. What if, in this case, he has gambled away his money, betting that you will die soon. So long as you live, he cannot get his money back.

A dull bloom of anger spread through Serrin. I know what youre doing. Twisting words until your point is the only reasonable one.

The purple figure shrugged, cast a glance through the trees at the Scoundrels. They were getting further away, but theyd have to get much further to stop Nicolai catching them.

I dont need to do much twisting. What I describe is effectively the same as our current situation.

Youre saying the only option is to kill them.

Nicolai drifted closer still. There is no world in which they and I can coexist. They saw my base. They are here to kill me. I told you before, our path is not an easy one. If were going to survive and escape the clutches of your mother we will have to sacrifice. And we will have enemies, and must fight unhesitatingly against them. You agreed to work with me, not against me.

Serrin had no answer. Nicolai was right, or at least he could find no argument against him. He didnt want to kill, but if you had no choice what other option was there? And in truth, he was fine with killing those who he knew were entirely deserving. Many Hornets fell into that category, though even then he wouldnt kill them unless given no other choice.

Was Nicolai right? Was there no choice? They hadnt even tried talking to them. Serrin shifted, unhappy. So they deserve death, in your eyes?

I am no one to judge whether others are deserving of death. If there was no need to kill them, I would not do so. But they are my enemies. It is as simple as that.

But still what if

Do you know the way back to base?

What? he thought for a moment. Yes, but

Then go. The ripples were delivered dismissively. Nicolai pulled back, already turning away.

He bristled. Wait. No! You need me to watch your back.

The purple figure looked back to him and he saw the shape of that pitiless helmet. Have you forgotten the result of our spar? You are not qualified to watch my back.

Serrin flinched, a surge of emotion rising through him. I he began, only to trail off. Nicolai was right.

Always Serrin had had one thing, a pillar which he could cling to. His skill in combat. He knew he was skilled. The most skilled in the Hive, in fact. Hearing Nicolai, the only one hed ever considered his equal in raw martal skill, say he wasnt qualified it felt worse than when the man had stabbed him.

Return to base, Serrin. Wait for me there.

Such a weight of disappointment he felt at those words. But what if they scatter, like you said? he managed, knowing he was flailing.

Then what? Will you help me kill them?

I

They wont escape. Return to base.

But

The helmet of purple light gazed at him, and at that moment Serrin felt as though the man he stood across from was cold and empty as the Soulless machines that manned his base, and knew that he was speaking only pitiless truth.

Fine, I fine. Serrin beat his wings slow and drifted away. After a moment he looked back. And saw through the trees the purple figure gazing back at him. Waiting for him to leave so it could begin. He turned and left.

Share